Hours before US Pres. Trump is expected to announce his decision[8] to move the American embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized the Israeli-occupied city as the official capital of Israel, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, in a last-ditch-effort, is reportedly pleading to the United Nations to stop the move. (Ma'an)

Palestinians seethed with anger[9] and a sense of betrayal over U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Reuters)

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh [10]and Palestinian Authority Pres. Abbas agreed Wednesday[11] that Palestinians had to stage a protest against an expected announcement the same evening by President Donald Trump stating that the US recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (Ynet/Times of Israel)

Jewish groups in the U.S. [13]expressed deep concern and dismay following Tuesday evening's announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump that he intends to move the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (Ha'aretz)

The patriarchs and heads of all the churches[14] in Jerusalem on Wednesday delivered a last-minute plea to US President Donald Trump, urging him not to change US policy toward Jerusalem for fear this could cause “irreparable harm.” (Times of Israel)

Pope Francis called on Wednesday for the status quo of Jerusalem to be respected and for “wisdom and prudence” to prevail to avoid further conflict, hours before the expected announcement that the United States is recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (AP)

British PM Theresa May [15]said she intends to speak to U.S. President Donald Trump about the status of Jerusalem, which she said should be determined as part of a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)

China expressed concern[17]on Wednesday about U.S. President Donald Trump's reported intention to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the U.S. Embassy to the ancient city, saying it could spark new hostility. (Reuters)

As President Donald Trump prepares to address the issue of Jerusalem [20]in a White House speech, the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem instructed U.S. officials not to travel to the Old City or West Bank in the face of reports that there will be protests. (JTA)

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot[23] met with top military officers in the West Bank on Wednesdaymorning amid calls by groups for violence in the region over an expected American announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Times of Israel)

US Vice President Mike Pence[24] said on Wednesday he would visit Bethlehem despite the tense relations between Palestine and the United States. (PNN)

The U.S. House of Representatives[26] overwhelmingly passed a bill that would reduce U.S. funding for the Palestinians unless their official bodies stop subsidizing families of killers of Israelis. (JTA)

France accused the Syrian government[27]on Wednesday of obstructing U.N.-led peace talks with its refusal to return to Geneva and called on Russia not to shirk its responsibilities to get Damascus to the negotiating table. (Reuters)

Talks on ending the six-year war[28] in Syria resumed on Wednesday with no sign of President Bashar al-Assad's delegation returning to the negotiations in Geneva after they walked out last week. (Reuters)

Commentary:

The New York Times[29] says moving the American embassy to Jerusalem is almost certain to anger the Palestinians and most Arab nations. (New York Times)

Emma Green[30] says President Trump’s announcement on the status of the holy city may be perceived as a threat to sacred space—and could spark a crisis across the Middle East. (The Atlantic)

Dana H. Allin and Steven N. Simon[32] say the most basic requirement in the Holy Land is to do no harm, thus following in the tradition of past presidents. (Foreign Affairs)

Nir Hasson[33] says over 300,000 Palestinians currently live in Jerusalem without citizenship rights, a situation the U.S. move could inadvertently force Israel to address. (Ha'aretz)

Ha'aretz[34] says instead of unilateral declarations favoring one side, the goal must be West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. (Ha'aretz)

Avi Issacharoff [35]says Pres. Abbas is leading the charge against American plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the embassy; if violence ensues, it will have stemmed from the top. (Times of Israel)

David Greene [36]explains why the world doesn’t recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (Ha'aretz)